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“Who controls the past, controls the future. Who controls the present, controls the past.” — George Orwell, 1984.

THE collective memory of our nation has transcended into something of a spectacular delusion. It is a myriad of different stories and different realities, all anxiously awaiting some form of acceptance, all desperately searching for legitimacy.

We are enraptured by our own muddled reflection, incapable of breaking away from this self-induced hypnosis. And what is remarkable is that this national delirium is not simply a natural consequence of the passage of time — it is the unpleasant side effect of the persistent distortion of our past.

The hijacking of our history began shortly after the creation of the country. In 1962, the Ayub Khan government promulgated the West Pakistan Textbook Board Ordinance, creating a central supervisory body charged with, most notably, “the implementation of the educational policies of the government” and “the laying down of specifications of text-books, for their preparation and publication”.

Under the scheme established by this ordinance, all textbooks were only to be published and distri­buted if they fell within the pre-determined parameters and guidelines issued by the government and were ratified by the board. In effect, the state began exercising nothing less than a blanket monopoly on the dissemination of knowledge, not only in form but also in content. And armed with this ability to colour the past the way it sees fit, our state has, throughout the last few decades, ended up conjuring a national history that is a little more fiction and a little less fact.

We are villainising our minorities, glorifying our wars and subverting logic on its head — and to what end?

Even the most cursory of inspections into Textbook Board-sanctioned material is a blatant testimony to this propensity. The tragedy of Partition has been turned into a simple one-sided affair — the senseless rape and slaughter of the Muslims of the subcontinent by an admixture of Hindus and Sikhs. The clergy that often vehemently opposed the very creation of Pakistan has been made part of the Quaid’s posse, whilst Mohammad Ali Jinnah himself has been eulogised into a Muslim saint, championing the cause for an Islamic state.

The political designs of the Congress have been characterised as the “machinations of the Hindus”; all Hindus, in sweeping, generalising statements, have been branded as “an enemy of Islam”. Every coup has been justified as a rational necessity, and every dictator branded as a much-needed messiah. We have even ventured to the extent of claiming that the foundations of Pakistan were laid out the moment Mohammad Bin Qasim landed on the shores of Sindh!

A fairytale this may all be, but a history lesson it is not. A lengthy exploration of the myths and fables in our textbooks cannot be the subject of this short an article (although if your interest is piqued, the SDPI report The Subtle Subversion may prove insightful), but suffice it to say that these statements are dangerous. We are villainising our minorities, glorifying our wars and subverting logic on its head — and to what end? Such notions strip historical events of their entire political, social and economic context, and they breed a culture of bigotry and intolerance. And while I appreciate that this may not be ill intended, that perhaps the fabricators of our history had nothing but the most pious intentions, this does not in any way excuse continued inaction on our part.

It is high time that we come to acknowledge that historical revisionism is a counter-intuitive endeavour, and focus our efforts on rectifying the damage that it has caused. The educational policies and practices of the state have rendered our pupils with an inability to critique, to ponder, to think. We are taught to blindly ingest our home-brewed history and simply regurgitate it onto paper in examination — top marks to the one who can do it word for word. No question is asked. No answer required. No wonder Pakistan is conspiracy-theory-galore. No wonder Bin Laden is gallivanting around the world with an American passport. No wonder Malala is a Western implant. And no wonder the disintegration of our country is an underhanded Jewish cons­piracy. All we can see are shadows, while we are blinded to what casts them.

Today, our predicament has become more solemn. As both information and misinformation abound, the myths of our officialdom finally stand naked and exposed, entangled in their own contradictions. Our historical narrative has become a frontline for an ideological battle — between one witness of the past against another. The consequential vacuum needs immediate attention, lest it should ferment into an even greater identity crisis. Without a consensus on our past and an awareness of our present there can be no shared aspiration for our future.

Although the pedagogical problems that haunt our educational system may require nothing less than an exorcism, as a humble initiative, we can at least begin by treating our curriculum. There is no short cut here, for our textbooks do not merely need revision — they need to be rewritten. We need a dynamic shift in our educational policy, a fundamental reorientation of our educational goals.

Firstly, we need to cast away any dated desire of cultivating a homogenous Muslim nation and accept the fact that Pakistan is and shall remain a multi-religious, multi-cultural, multi-lingual and multi-ethnic state. Our children should be taught to appreciate this diversity, not distrust it.

Secondly, we must make a conscious effort to ensure that our textbooks are purged of historical inaccuracies and biases. History does not need to be sugar-coated, it can remain ugly and bitter. Perhaps if this is the case, we may actually extract something of value from it.

And lastly, we must ensure that the entire focus of our efforts is to instil in our children the most basic, the most elementary and the most clichéd of notions — tolerance, respect and compassion.

Having said that, I do think it poignant here to end with K.K. Aziz’s most frightful query from The Murder of History — “is anyone listening?”

On DawnNews

Comments (36) Closed

Raj

Jun 27, 2016 07:05am

You are one brave writer. Stay safe.

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vasudevan

Jun 27, 2016 07:23am

I have been regularly reading good articles like this one in your paper, that call for providing history lessons as they occurred, not fabricated ones. Has there been any action from the government? Has anybody even bothered about the damage they are doing to the young minds? And can anyone call Pakistan a multi-cultural country when its minorities have been almost decimated?

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Neutral Neighbour

Jun 27, 2016 07:46am

Young author with his incisive and cogent writing reinforces my faith in the potential of Pakistan as a nation to rise to great heights. But the unfortunate question is - is anybody listening?

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R.K.Mohindra

Jun 27, 2016 07:56am

Sir, the last sentence in your article, says it all-Is any one listening?
They do know the truth, but they choose not to know. Because the present thinking and history suits them, then why muddle it with the truth.

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Gambhir

Jun 27, 2016 08:10am

Congrats on this bold honest and an insightful article.

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Sane Mind

Jun 27, 2016 09:24am

Awesome. Nailed the truth. High time Pakistan comes out of it's self imposed Arab culture.

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idea!

Jun 27, 2016 10:00am

Bravo!

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Goldie

Jun 27, 2016 11:15am

In reply to last line, No sir, Sadly no one is listening

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TQ

Jun 27, 2016 11:26am

Excellent article. Hope the decision makers listen and open their minds.

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Sunil Bhat

Jun 27, 2016 12:24pm

Dear Asfand !! It is an incredible article based on pure facts , based on true Love to your nation and the belief that it is the honesty of facts that drive nations forward and allows them to grow . A country's strength is not the sum total of its weapons . A well timed article to drive an incredibly criticle point which will lay the foundations of a strong Pakistan of future if these facts are internalized , humanized and most importantly acknowledged and course corrected . Congratulations once again for a well intention ed and well meaning article .

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Indian

Jun 27, 2016 12:35pm

@Alii , Have you seen Indian books.. Multiculutrism is always encouraged.. We dont paint any particular community in negative light.. First read a few text books than comment..

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Mujahid HUSSAIN.

Jun 27, 2016 12:49pm

Thank very much to pleasing indians.

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Sudhir Neyalasinger

Jun 27, 2016 01:04pm

Wow. What an article. There are lessons in his words for India too. Congress and the left have shaped our textbooks in which selected freedom fighters have been deified. The Indian culture and history have been projected through a leftist prism.Independence from the British has been mostly credited to the freedom struggle, when in reality, a resource-depleted Britain in the post world war scenario couldn't support its troops in India and used the freedom struggle as a ruse to pull out. Rewriting history to suit regimes is a phenomenon unique to the Indian subcontinent.

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Vikas

Jun 27, 2016 01:07pm

Not many people will have the guts to admit this in Pakistan and even less will have the will to change the education or belief system. Young minds have to be taught the truth. One line that stood out for me is that instead of unity through religion had the nation followed the motto (as India did) of 'Unity in Diversity' the state and mind of your nation would have been different in a positive direction.

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Chetan

Jun 27, 2016 01:38pm

@Alii I guess you need to actually read the extbooks. Search NCERT on google, read before you comment.

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Feroz

Jun 27, 2016 02:18pm

Manufacturing history has been an important project conceived and implemented since Independence. It has the support of all Political parties, Mullahs and Military. The pleading of a few individuals to change course has not made any impression in the past, unlikely to do so any time soon. Without hatred for others Pakistani citizens will think of betterment of themselves, a situation Rulers will not allow.

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Sunil

Jun 27, 2016 03:10pm

ASFAND YAR WARRAICH, you seem to be a man who knows too much - and it could be dangerous.

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SB

Jun 27, 2016 04:00pm

Young and Brave.

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Amazed

Jun 27, 2016 04:08pm

Here's an opportunity for Pakistani and Indian academics to work together and write a more facial version of history textbooks that can be used in both countries. I'm sure there are still enough honest scholars on both sides of the border.

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Amazed

Jun 27, 2016 04:12pm

@Alii Two wrongs don't make it right. We need to get our house in order before throwing stones on others. Each country is paying the price for the folly of historical distortions.

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Partha

Jun 27, 2016 04:35pm

Seriously, Hats off to the writer ! He is such a brave & rational writer. Cannot agree more with himon this. Just Stay safe sir...

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Wajahat

Jun 27, 2016 05:24pm

The writer has proposed extreme measures to combat what he sees as a deliberate distortion of truth. Agreed that our textbooks are not the examplary in covering out history. But before we take any corrective steps a few aspects need to be considered. First and foremost, has the author examined the textbooks of the contemporary world, for example are the US textbooks ,telling the absolute truth about the civil war, or the invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan. Are the Indian Textbooks revealing the truth about the conditions before and during the partition, the Gujrat Massacre, or the Operation Bluestar. Such a survey would definitely lead to the conclusion that Governments all around are not entirely truthful about their history. So the wild reaction to own textbooks needs to be toned down and any action be taken with due deliberation.

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Kulbhushan Yadav

Jun 27, 2016 05:31pm

@Wajahat
Have you read Indian history books???? If not, then please read them before commenting.

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O.A. Khan

Jun 27, 2016 06:20pm

Funding madrassahs v/s curriculum overhaul. PTI completely mauling the process these towards proper educational reform. Ofcourse, it would help if they actually allocate a higher budget. Also, should have vetted the picture.

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excalibur

Jun 27, 2016 06:31pm

@Kulbhushan Yadav What BJP and Modi are up to is an open secret Saffronizing Indian Textbooks as a matter of State policy

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sms

Jun 27, 2016 06:44pm

Well written, very well.
There is nothing to comment except that NO-ONE will follow the advise.

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Planettrekker

Jun 27, 2016 06:50pm

Honest article

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R.K. Mohindra

Jun 27, 2016 06:51pm

@Mujahid HUSSAIN.
Does that displease Pakistanis? Please wake up. World is changing fast. if you don't, you shall be left behind. Time waits for no one.

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R.K. Mohindra

Jun 27, 2016 06:59pm

@Wajahat
Dear Sir, you obviously has no access to read Indian books. Thank God India is not a closed society. Dozens, of books written on the subjects you mentioned are easily available on Amazon. And you are saying about US civil war. I live in USA. This is the the most open society in the world.

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Ghaznavi

Jun 27, 2016 07:55pm

Apparently the author has not read the history taught in US schools? History is just a point of view and every nation puts it to serve its needs, to motivate its youth. There is no harm in changing our view as long as it serves our interests.

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pathanoo

Jun 27, 2016 07:55pm

People who do not know their history accurately and learn from it have a doomed future. AN EXCELLENT TRUTH BASED ARTICLE.

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Pakistani

Jun 27, 2016 08:59pm

@Mujahid HUSSAIN. Mujahid i don't think any one who is trying to explore truth is pleasing any one. I think sane voices should be appreciated and encouraged. Those who asked questions regarding established facts produced extraordinary in history. Keep asking question, don't just believe what is imposed on you or any one.

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Saleem

Jun 27, 2016 11:15pm

@sms if only you follow, it will be a success

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Jawaid kamal

Jun 28, 2016 07:12am

Great and truely objective. But no shortage of applogists

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Srinivasulu Mekala

Jun 28, 2016 09:21pm

There is a saying " One single swallow does not make a winter". This author's voice will be lost into the wilderness of cruelty, intolerance and terrorism. Pakistan is nowhere near any change,

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Realist

Jul 01, 2016 11:09pm

Completely blown away by the author's command on English , vocabulary and his choice of words. Kudos to him.